Linnaeus University
Not a member yet
43313 research outputs found
Sort by
Foresight in heritage : fostering future consciousness to proactively face change
No full textPurpose - This paper introduces Foresight as a structured approach that is increasingly employed across industries and disciplines for anticipating future change and proposes its utility for the heritage sector. We illustrate how integrating greater Foresight into heritage practice can encourage proactive engagement with emerging trends; develop resilient strategies for heritage research, planning and management; and locate where heritage-based actions can bring transformative change for both communities and societies. Design/methodology/approach - This paper presents research undertaken as part of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage Research in Europe (ARCHE) to inform a new Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. We analysed foresight and future-oriented publications from a range of disciplines to consolidate insights on current and emerging trends across sectors and global regions and to understand the heritage sector's engagement with Foresight approaches thus far. Findings - The analysis identifies several drivers shaping our existing and future landscape and their implications for heritage research and practice. It also highlights opportunities for action where heritage can have a vital role in shaping futures and catalysing societal benefits. To conclude, the paper discusses gaps in the current body of heritage foresight research and identifies avenues to produce a more robust corpus to reflect a greater diversity of perspectives. Originality/value - As the present study corroborates, the cultural heritage sector has had little engagement with foresight methods, despite the acute relevance of the future to heritage concepts and praxis.Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europ
Swedish preschool teachers’ views on and use of digital technology in preschool education
No full textResearch on digital technology in early childhood education is limited, especially in relation to pedagogical practices and educators’ perspectives. This study investigates views and experiences of digital technology among Swedish preschool teachers focusing on the following two research questions: 1) What are the preschool teachers' views of digital technology in preschool? 2) How do the preschool teachers use digital technology in preschool? A total of 44 interviews were analysed thematically (RQ1) and using a framework of replacement, amplification and transformation (RQ2). The results show that most of the preschool teachers expressed positive views on the use of digital technology in preschool, but also a need for more knowledge about how to use different digital tools. When the preschool teachers talked about teaching and learning, they mentioned the importance of children being producers who actively create digital content, rather than consumers of ready-made digital software. Further, the teachers often expressed that their view depended on how and with whom digital technology was to be used. The results in this study must be seen in the context of Swedish preschools, where pre-school teachers are well educated and expected to plan and implement high-quality teaching with or without digital technology
Bioinformatics for disentangling metabolic activities in marine microbial communities
No full textMicrobial communities are key drivers of biogeochemical processes in the ocean. Recent methods involving metatranscriptomic approaches provide powerful data to investigate the diversity and activity of microorganisms in situ. Despite this, interpretation of gene expression data in an ecological context is often constrained by a lack of reference genomes, standardised analytical practices, and reproducible workflows. These limitations hinder both comparability across studies and robust ecological interference. This thesis aims to address these challenges through the development and application of accessible, standardized, reproducible bioinformatic pipelines primarily for metatranscriptomic but also metagenomic analyses. nf-core/metatdenovo was developed as a reproducible workflow for de novo assembly, quantification, and annotation of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data. This pipeline enables taxonomic and functional characterization without reliance on reference genomes, providing a practical solution for studies in under-characterized environments. To provide a suitable tool when reference genomes are available, I developed nf-core/magmap, a pipeline that maps metatranscriptomic reads directly to genomes–provided by the user or publicly available–allowing analysis of expression patterns at the level of individual populations. A comparative analysis of these two pipelines within this thesis shows how methodological choices influence functional annotation, taxonomic resolution, and, ultimately, ecological interpretation, highlighting the strengths and limitations inherent to each pipeline. Finally, I applied nf-core/magmap to a metatranscriptomic dataset collected across seasons along a coastal–offshore gradient in the northwest Iberian upwelling system to investigate microbial rhodopsin expression in nature. The results revealed spatial, seasonal, and lineage-specific patterns in rhodopsin transcription, with substantial functional heterogeneity among closely related taxa. Rhodopsin investment is shown to be associated with different metabolic strategies rather than a universal functional coupling, underscoring the ecological diversity of microbial light-harvesting strategies. Altogether, this thesis shows how reproducible approaches to the analysis of meta-omics datasets can be used in advancing the ecological understanding of microbial functions
Leadership and work motivation : A quantitative study about transformative leadership, LMX and employees motivation
No full textMedarbetares motivation har blivit en alltmer central del av organisationspsykologin. Därför har arbetsgivare visat ett större engagemang för att förstå vad som driver medarbetare att stanna på arbetsplatsen och prestera väl. Tidigare forskning har föreslagit att arbetsmotivation kan skilja sig åt beroende på generation, ledarskapsstil och kvaliteten på relationen till chefen. Syftet med denna studie var därför att undersöka hur transformativt ledarskap och leader-member exchange (LMX) påverkar inre, yttre och amotivation, samt om dessa samband skiljer sig mellan Generation Z och äldre generationer. Data samlades in från 95 deltagare via en webbenkät bestående av validerade skalor för motivation, transformativt ledarskap och LMX. Analysen inkluderade korrelationer, multipla regressionsanalyser och modererade regressionsanalyser. Resultatet visade att sambanden mellan ledarskapsvariablerna och motivation generellt inte var statistiskt signifikanta utan tyder på att andra faktorer än ledarskap kan påverka medarbetares motivation. Employee motivation has become an increasingly central topic in organizational psychology. Consequently, employers have shown a greater interest in understanding what drives employees to stay in the workplace and perform well. Previous research has suggested that work motivation may vary depending on generation, leadership style and the quality of the relationship with the supervisor. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine how transformational leadership and leader-member exchange (LMX) influence intrinsic, extrinsic and amotivation. Also, whether these relationships differ between generation Z and older generations. Data was collected from 95 participants using a web-based survey comprising validated scales for motivation, transformational leadership and LMX. The analysis included correlations, multiple regression analyses and moderated regression analyses. The results indicated that the relationship between leadership variables and motivation were generally not statistically significant, suggesting that factors other than leadership may influence employee motivation
Into that whiteness – how explicit racism is excused by teachers’ colour-blind antiracism
No full textThis study aimed to analyse how teachers, in areas that show a historically high presence of neo-Nazi sentiments and racist opinions, understand and approach racist attitudes and practices among their students. Interviews and focus group interviews with Swedish teachers were conducted in three schools. Data were analysed using concepts such as institutionalised racism and whiteness. The findings showed that the territorial stigmatisation of the community and the schools had a significant impact on how the teachers dealt with and handled racist attitudes and practices. Although the teachers reported and filed racist incidences, they gradually became used to and contributed to a normalisation of explicit racist practices among students. The article concludes that racist practices, when constructed and dealt with as individualised behaviours, allow not only institutional racism, but also serve to re-produce whiteness as an institutional blind spot
The Influence of Leadership Behaviors on Psychological Safety : A Qualitative Study from Employees´ Perspectives
No full textLedares beteenden kan ha både positiv och negativ inverkan på medarbetares upplevelse av psykologisk trygghet. Arbetsmiljöer som präglas av en hög grad av psykologisk trygghet kan bidra till att medarbetare i större utsträckning vågar dela med sig av sina kunskaper och idéer. Detta främjar kreativitet, innovationsförmåga och välbefinnande, faktorer som i dagens arbetsliv anses vara en konkurrensfördel för organisationer. I motsats kan brist på psykologisk trygghet i arbetsmiljön ge upphov till känslor av oro och osäkerhet hos medarbetare, vilket kan resultera i ökad stress, försämrat välbefinnande samt högre personalomsättning. Detta kan i sin tur leda till lidande för individen och ökade kostnader för arbetsplatsen. Studien avser att undersöka hur medarbetare upplever ledares beteenden och vilken inverkan de har på deras psykologiska trygghet. Studien baserades på åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer som analyserades med reflexiv tematisk analys. Resultaten visar att ledares beteenden präglade av ett stödjande förhållningssätt, inkludering, empati och tillit, i kombination med öppen kommunikation, har särskilt goda förutsättningar att främja medarbetares upplevelse av psykologisk trygghet. Studiens resultat kan utgöra ett underlag för vidare reflektion kring psykologisk trygghet i arbetslivet samt hur organisationer kan arbeta mer hållbart med personal- och arbetsmiljöfrågor
How Do Ethnic Parties and Ethnic Quotas Matter for Ethnicity and Voting in Latin America?
No full textThis article addresses an interesting puzzle in the study of ethnic disparities in political participation: inter-ethnic equality in political participation. Previous studies in the U.S. have shown an ethnic gap in political participation. Still, comparative research in other regions yields a mixed result, suggesting ethnic minority status may not always be associated with lower levels of participation. This article sheds light on this puzzle by investigating ethnic disparities in voting among four ethnic groups (white, mixed, indigenous and black) in Latin America. We explore the influence of ethnic parties and ethnic quotas in reducing participatory inequalities among ethnic groups. We theorise that ethnic parties, which represent the organisational resources of ethnic groups, and ethnic quotas, which expand political opportunities, can help to narrow the ethnic gap in voting. Our multilevel regression models based on cross-national data from the Latin American Public Opinion Project for 18 Latin American countries over four survey waves (2012–2018) strongly support our hypothesis. We find that both ethnic parties and ethnic quotas are correlated with higher turnout among (some) ethnic groups. It helps in reducing and equalising voting among ethnic minorities such as indigenous and black voters. These results challenge notions of an ethnic voting gap and underscore the importance of organisational resources and institutional opportunities in shaping electoral participation
Written and digital note-taking methods : A psychological study on how note-taking methods are percieved to affect learning and behaviour
No full textNote-taking is a central part of the learning process, yet students increasingly use digital devices during lectures. Previous research has mainly compared handwritten and digital note-taking using experimental designs, while less is known about students’ own perceptions of different note-taking methods. The present study examined university students perceived performance, multitasking, reformulation, satisfaction, and repetition habits in relation to handwritten, digital and combined note-taking methods. A web-based questionnaire was distributed at a Swedish university, and data were analysed using a one-way ANOVA on each dependent variable and descriptive statistics. The result showed a significant effect of note-taking method on perceived multitasking, whereas no significant differences were found for perceived performance, reformulation, or satisfaction. Descriptive analyses indicated discrepancy between experimental research showing cognitive benefits of handwritten note-taking and students’ own perceptions of their learning. Methodological considerations and implications for future research are discussed.
Working in Times of Uncertainty : A Comparative Qualitative Case Study of Internal Crisis Communication in Swedish Healthcare during COVID-19
No full textThis study examines how internal crisis communication functioned at a hospital in southern Sweden during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous research indicates that internal crisis communication is an under-researched area. Research also shows that insufficient internal crisis communication can lead to mental health issues among healthcare staff and decrease trust in management, affecting both the work environment and patient safety. The aim of the study is to highlight employees´ experiences of internal crisis communication and how it was conveyed by managers and senior leadership. The research questions seek to provide an understanding of how internal crisis communication affected employees, as well as what shortcomings and challenges existed. The study is based on a comparative qualitative case study in which two departments at the same hospital were examined. The primary empirical material consisted of semi-structured interviews, supplemented by text documents used as complement to the interviews. The interview participants consisted of eight employees, two of whom were department managers from the respective departments. The results show that internal crisis communication was experienced differently across the departments. Communication in Department 1 indicated a greater emphasis on communication as sharing, whereas communication in Department 2 indicated a greater emphasis on communication as transmission. The results further show that the objectives of internal crisis communication were largely fulfilled in Department 1, while they were only partially fulfilled in Department 2. A shared experience in both departments was that the constant flow of information constituted a challenge. The study concludes that internal crisis communication should not solely focus on information transmission but also needs to create conditions for dialogue, understanding, and collective sense-making. Particularly in crisis situations characterized by high uncertainty, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The study contributes to an increased understanding of internal crisis communication and its complexity
Strengthening insufficient prior knowledge in the mathematics classroom : A literature review of instructional strategies in upper secondary mathematics
No full textAtt elever saknar de kunskaper som förväntas från tidigare skolår och därför har svårt att följa matematikundervisningen på gymnasiet är ett återkommande problem, både i Sverige och internationellt. Detta kan leda till betydande konsekvenser för deras fortsatta lärande. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie är att få en bild av forskningsfältet som rör problematiken kring bristande förkunskaper hos elever på gymnasienivå samt att identifiera relevanta undervisningsstrategier. Den centrala forskningsfrågan är: Vad är det som kännetecknar undervisningsstrategier som syftar till att stärka gymnasieelevers bristande förkunskaper i matematik? Studien bygger på en tematisk analys av internationell forskning relaterad till förkunskapsbrister, missuppfattningar och didaktiska insatser inom olika innehållsområden i skolmatematiken. Analysen visar att undervisningsstrategier för elever med bristande förkunskaper kan förstås genom två övergripande teman: strategier för att stärka baskunskaper och strategier för att utveckla komplexa koncept. Tillsammans belyser dessa teman hur undervisningen kan utformas för att stödja elevers progression från osäker och fragmenterad till stabil och sammanhängande kunskap. Resultaten visar även att undervisningsstrategier för elever med bristande förkunskaper i matematik kännetecknas av en kombination av stöd, tydlig struktur och kognitiv utmaning. Studien bidrar därmed till en fördjupad förståelse av vilken potential olika undervisningsstrategier har för att hjälpa elever med bristande förkunskaper att nå lärandemålen i matematik. Resultaten kan användas som vetenskaplig grund i matematiklärares undervisningspraktiker